Comments on: Pimp my rath

By: Deepa

Deepa — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:31:49 +0000

Contrast India's reaction in this matter to that of enlightened Europe's.

interesting observation

By: Deepa

Deepa — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 21:27:00 +0000

But who’s going to clean the jakes of rath? (sorry )

By: Expose

Expose — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 18:05:27 +0000

While I understand the danger and futility of reclaiming Hindu temples, by judicial diktat or by force, the fact remains [unacknowledged by the marxists, albeit] that hundreds of temples [during the Islamic colnisation of the India of yore] were razed to be replaced by mosques. Contrast India’s reaction in this matter to that of enlightened Europe’s.

By: Expose

Expose — Tue, 11 Apr 2006 17:44:02 +0000

Gaurav – is right. Even the only Islamic majority state in the Indian Union banned cow slaughter.

By: Gaurav

Gaurav — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:45:51 +0000

Manish (25#)

Banning cow slaughter:- Stupid, but actually it is one of the directive principles of Indian constitution. Since independence many states have prohibited cow slaughter, not all of them ruled by BJP or Jan Sangh.

Banning religious conversion: - I think it is Banning "religious conversion by coercion".

Reconstruction of Ayodhya Temple: - (1) Sardar Vallabh Bhai constructed Somnath Temple. (2) It was Rajeev Gandhi who opened the locks of Ayudhya temple. (3) Indian state milks temples for the money to use for other purposes.

Regards

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:28:59 +0000

... BJP on average is no more communal than so called secular parties.

Which is why its major planks include an Ayodhya temple, banning cow slaughter and banning religious conversion.

By: Gaurav

Gaurav — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 08:05:31 +0000

Manish (23#),

Yes Rath == Chariot. Yes the symbiology is from Mahabharata. Many symbols in the modern culture are derived from religious symbols (Red cross for example). Last it might shock you but BJP on average is no more communal than so called secular parties.

Regards

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:41:57 +0000

It's a chariot yatra, not just a yatra-- that's from the Mahabharata. But I defer here, maybe it's so common as to have lost its religious connotation to the ears of Indian residents.

Independently, given the BJP's communalist history, it's pretty clear what the implication is. Just like a Crusade for Election in the American Bible Belt means something quite specific, or a Crusade Against Terrorism in a Muslim country.

By: Gaurav

Gaurav — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:26:47 +0000

Manish (21#)

Term "Rath Yatra" has religion origins, just like "Crusade" has. However in the context it is a political vehicle rather than being a religious one, just like "Crusade against corruption" has nothing to do with religion.

Regards

By: Manish Vij

Manish Vij — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:14:34 +0000

BJP or for that matter LK Advani are not projecting it as a religious affair.

Which is why they're calling it a rath yatra. This terminology is straight out of the Ramayana.